Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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55. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has satisfied himself with the observations and recommendations of the advisory council in its first report; the number of recommendations that will be implemented in the final report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21559/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The Climate Change Advisory Council was established under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. Under this legislation, the Advisory Council is an independent body whose key function is to provide advice and recommendations to me, to relevant sectoral Ministers and to the Government as a whole in relation to the development of national mitigation plans and national adaptation frameworks. The Advisory Council is also tasked with advising on matters relating to the achievement of the Ireland’s objective to transition to a low carbon, climate resilient and sustainable economy by 2050.

I very much welcome the publication by the Advisory Council of its first report in November of last year. In this report, the Advisory Council very clearly articulates the scientific understanding underpinning of the nature of climate change, the resulting imperative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the policy implications this presents Ireland. In these respects, I would commend the report to every member in these Houses. The Advisory Council also arrives at some initial conclusions in relation to the issues that the first National Mitigation Plan should consider both for individual sectors covered by the Plan as well as on a cross-sectoral basis.

In order for the Advisory Council to meet its mandate under the 2015 legislation, I invited it, following my publication of the draft National Mitigation Plan, to engage directly with me and with other relevant Government Ministers with a view to providing my colleagues and me with its recommendations to feed into the preparation of the final Plan. All input received from the Advisory Council is being considered in finalising the National Mitigation Plan which will go to Government for approval in early June. I also understand that the Advisory Council intends to publish its first Periodic Report in July of this year and that this report will include the Council’s overall response to the final National Mitigation Plan as published.

In this regard, it is important to note that the Advisory Council is also required, under the 2015 legislation, to report annually on progress made during the previous year in achieving greenhouse gas emissions reductions and to make recommendations, as it considers necessary or appropriate, in relation to the most cost-effective manner of achieving reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in order to enable the achievement of the national transition objective.